Method for cleaning a load in a treatment space of a domestic appliance

ABSTRACT

A domestic appliance for cleaning a load has a treatment space for accommodating a load to be cleaned, a load detecting device for detecting a load quantity in the treatment space, and a time detecting device for detecting a time value. A controller of the domestic appliance automatically starts a cleaning program when (i) the load quantity detected by the load detecting device exceeds a predetermined load limit value and (ii) the time value detected by the time detecting device exceeds a predetermined time limit value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of patent application Ser. No.15/692,455, filed Aug. 31, 2017; this application also claims thepriority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of European patent application No.16002022.8, filed Sep. 16, 2016; the prior applications are herewithincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a domestic appliance for cleaning aload such as, for example, a rinsing machine or a laundry treatmentdevice, and to a method for cleaning a load in a treatment space of adomestic appliance.

In domestic appliances for cleaning a load such as, for example, rinsingmachines or laundry treatment devices (washing machines, laundry dryersetc.) it is known to adapt program sequences automatically to variousparameters. Thus, for example, washing machines are known which detect aweight of a laundry load to be cleaned and automatically adapt a washingprogram sequence and/or an amount of washing agent to the detectedquantity of load (compare e.g. published, non-prosecuted German patentapplication DE 197 41 023 A1). For rinsing machines, too, it is known todetect the quantity of load and the degree of soiling of the load inorder to correspondingly adapt a rinsing program sequence (compare, e.g.published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 100 48 081 A1).

In the case of such domestic appliances, it is also known to startcleaning programs automatically offset in time. This can be done, forexample, in order to allow the cleaning program to start at a time atwhich the energy costs are lower, for example due to lower energy prices(compare, e.g. published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 102012 105 340 A1) or at which operating noises of the domestic applianceare less disturbing (compare, e.g. published, non-prosecuted Germanpatent application DE 10 2004 039 435 B4).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of providing an improved domesticappliance and an improved method for cleaning a load with an automaticprogramme start.

The object is achieved by the teaching of the independent claims.Particularly preferred embodiments and developments of the invention arethe subject matter of the dependent claims.

The domestic appliance for cleaning a load has a treatment space foraccommodating a load to be cleaned, a load detecting device fordetecting a load quantity in the treatment space and a time detectingdevice for detecting a time value. According to the invention, thedomestic appliance also has a controller which is configured forautomatically starting a cleaning program when (i) the load quantitydetected by the load detecting device exceeds a predetermined load limitvalue and (ii) the time value detected by the time detecting deviceexceeds a predetermined time limit value.

In the case of the domestic appliance according to the invention, acleaning program can be started offset in time, but the cleaning programis only started when a minimum amount of load is reached. This makes itpossible to avoid that the domestic appliance wastes energy, water,cleaning agent, etc. if the load is inadequate.

The domestic appliance for cleaning a load is preferably a rinsingmachine, a laundry treatment device (washing machine, laundry dryeretc.) or the like.

The time value to be detected and the predetermined time limit value arepreferably a time period or a clock time. The time detecting device ispreferably a timer which is preferably integrated into the controller.

The amount of load to be detected and the predetermined load limit valueare preferably a load weight, a load volume or the like. The loadquantity detecting device has correspondingly preferably a weightsensor, a load detector (e.g. optical image acquisition system, sensorsystems with electromagnetic waves, sensor systems with sound wavesetc.).

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the domestic appliancealso has an input device for inputting the predetermined time limitvalue by a user. This input device can preferably be the operating panelof the domestic appliance or be integrated in the latter. In otherembodiments of the invention, the predetermined time limit value canalso be permanently predetermined and, for example, stored in a memoryof the controller.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the domestic appliancealso has an input device for inputting the predetermined load limitvalue by a user. This input device can be preferably the operating panelof the domestic appliance or be integrated in the latter. Preferably,the input device is configured for inputting the predetermined timelimit value also for inputting the predetermined load limit value. Inother embodiments of the invention, the predetermined load limit valuecan also be permanently predetermined and stored, for example, in amemory of the controller.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the domesticappliance also has a cleaning agent detecting device for detecting anavailable cleaning agent quantity. The controller of the domesticappliance is then preferably also configured to start the cleaningprogram automatically only when (iii) the cleaning agent quantity by thecleaning agent detecting device exceeds a predetermined cleaning agentlimit value.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the domesticappliance also has an automatic door closing system for automaticallyclosing a door to the treatment space. The controller of the domesticappliance is then preferably also configured to activate this automaticdoor closing system to close the door before it starts the cleaningprogram.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, thedomestic appliance also has an energy cost detecting device fordetecting actual energy costs. The controller of the domestic applianceis then preferably also configured to start the cleaning programmeautomatically only when (iv) the energy costs detected by the energycost detecting device drop below a predetermined energy cost limitvalue. The actual energy costs are, for example, energy prices invarious tariffs (e.g. day tariff, night tariff, weekend tariff etc.).

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, thedomestic appliance also has a display device for displaying at least oneinformation item which is selected from the predetermined load limitvalue, the detected load quantity, a difference between the detectedload quantity and the predetermined load limit value (e.g. difference,quotient), the predetermined time limit value, the detected time valueand a difference between the detected time value and the predeterminedtime limit value (e.g. difference, quotient). This display device canpreferably be the operating panel of the domestic appliance or beintegrated in the latter. The display device is preferably combined withthe input device. Additionally, the display device can preferably alsodisplay information with respect to the energy costs and the state ofclosure of the door to the treatment space.

The method for cleaning a load in a treatment space of a domesticappliance has the steps of detecting a load quantity in the treatmentspace and detecting a time value. The cleaning program is startedautomatically only when (i) the detected load quantity exceeds apredetermined load limit value and (ii) the detected time value exceedsa predetermined time limit value.

Particular advantages, definitions of terms, preferred embodimentscorrespond to those from the above description of the domestic applianceaccording to the invention and are, therefore, not repeated at thispoint.

The method preferably also has a step of inputting the predeterminedload limit value and/or the predetermined time limit value by a user.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, furthermore, anavailable quantity of cleaning agent is detected. In this case, thecleaning programme is preferably started automatically only when (iii)the detected quantity of cleaning agent exceeds a predetermined cleaningagent limit value.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the domestic appliancealso has an automatic door closing system for automatically closing adoor to the treatment space. In this case, the automatic door closingsystem is preferably activated for closing the door before the cleaningprogramme is started.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one informationitem is also displayed to a user which is selected from thepredetermined load limit value, the detected load quantity, a differencebetween the detected load quantity and the predetermined load limitvalue, the predetermined time limit value, the detected time value, anda difference between the detected time value and the predetermined timelimit value.

In further ones of an advantageous embodiment of the invention, alsoactual energy costs are detected. In this case, the cleaning program ispreferably started automatically only when (iv) the detected energycosts drop below a predetermined energy cost limit value.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a domestic appliance for cleaning a load and a method for cleaning aload in a treatment space of a domestic appliance, it is neverthelessnot intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope andrange of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a block diagram showing aconstruction of a domestic appliance according to an illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the single FIGURE of the drawing in detail, there isshown a domestic appliance for cleaning a load and is illustratively arinsing machine or a washing machine.

The domestic appliance has a controller 10 which drives at least oneunit 12 of the domestic appliance. The unit 12 is, for example, a waterpump or a drive motor or a laundry drum.

The controller 10 is connected to an input device 14 and a displaydevice 16. The input device 14 and the display device 16 are, forexample, combined with one another and integrated in an operating plateof the domestic appliance.

The controller 10 is also connected to a load detecting device 18 whichcan detect a load quantity W to be cleaned in a treatment space of thedomestic appliance. For this purpose, the load detecting device 18 has,for example, a weight sensor for detecting a weight of the load, a loaddetector (e.g. optical image acquisition system, sensor system withelectromagnetic waves, sensor system with sound waves etc.) fordetecting a volume of the load in the treatment space or the like.

The controller 10 also contains a timer as time detecting device 20. Thetime detecting device 20 is used for detecting a time value T. The timevalue T is, for example, a clock time or a time period.

In addition, the controller is optionally connected to a cleaning agentdetecting device 22 and/or a cleaning agent proportioning device 24. Onthe one hand, the cleaning agent detecting device 22 can detect aquantity of cleaning agent R available in a cleaning agent storagespace, on the other hand, the controller 10 can activate the cleaningagent proportioning device 24 to the proportioned supply of a cleaningagent.

Furthermore, the domestic appliance can have an automatic door closingsystem 26. The controller 10 can drive the automatic door closing system26 in order to automatically close a door to the treatment space of thedomestic appliance. On the other hand, the automatic door closing system26 can inform the controller 10 of a current state of closure (open,closed) of this door.

Finally, the controller is optionally connected to an energy costdetecting device 28 for detecting actual energy costs E. The actualenergy costs E are, for example, energy prices at various times of theday (e.g. day tariff, night tariff, weekend tariff, etc.) of therespective energy provider (e.g. power, water, etc.). The energy costdetecting device 28 can have, for example, a connection to the Internetin order to call up the current energy prices from the home page of theenergy provider. Additionally or alternatively, the energy costdetecting device 28 can have a memory for storing the tariffs of theenergy provider.

A time-displaced automatic starting of a cleaning program takes place asfollows.

Via the input device 14, a user can input a required cleaning programfor the load to be cleaned in the treatment space of the domesticappliance.

The user can input via the input device 14 a time limit value t (e.g.20:00 hours, 2 hours, etc.) when the cleaning program is to be startedat the earliest, and a load limit value w (e.g. 4 kg, 50%) from whichquantity of load the cleaning program is allowed to be started. Theinput device 14 informs the controller 10 of the time limit value tinput and the load limit value w input. These limit values t, w can beinput once, for example, and stored in a memory of the controller 10 orinput anew for each cleaning process.

The load detecting device 18 informs the controller 10 continuously orat regular time intervals of the detected quantity of load W.

The controller 10 starts the cleaning program selected by the user onlywhen the two following conditions are met:

(i) the load quantity W detected by the load detecting device 18 isgreater than the predetermined load limit value w input by the user(W>w), and(ii) the time value T determined by the time detecting device 20 isgreater than the predetermined time limit value t (T>t) input by theuser.

In the case of a rinsing machine according to the invention, forexample, the user does not need to think of switching it on in theevening. He only needs to input a required starting time once in theevening. If, however, hardly any dirty dishes have been placed into therinsing machine in the course of the day, it will not start but waits,for example, until the next day. For example, in the case ofinsufficient loading of the rinsing machine, the cleaning program willnot start in spite of the set time being reached so that water andelectrical energy can be saved.

In this context, the load limit value w can be set to be variable by theuser via the input device 14. Thus, the load limit weight, for example,can be set to be higher in the case of the rinsing machine being loadedwith heavy pots, than when the rinsing machine is loaded with glasses orplastic dishes.

If present, the controller 10 activates the automatic door closingsystem 26, before starting the cleaning program, to close the door tothe treatment space.

If present, the cleaning agent detecting device 22 informs thecontroller 10 of the detected quantity of cleaning agent R. Thecontroller 10 starts the cleaning program selected by the user, in thiscase, only when the following condition is also met in addition to thetwo above conditions: (iii) the quantity of cleaning agent R detected bythe cleaning agent detecting device 22 is greater than a predeterminedlimit value of cleaning agent.

Furthermore, the energy cost detecting device 28, if present, informsthe controller 10 of the actual energy costs E. In this case, thecontroller 10 starts the cleaning program selected by the user only whenthe following condition is also met in addition to the above conditions:(iv) the energy costs E detected by the energy cost detecting device 28are lower than a predetermined energy cost limit value.

Via the display device 16, especially the following information can bedisplayed to the user:

selected cleaning program;

status of the current cleaning program;

the predetermined/input time limit value t, the detected time value Tand/or a difference between the predetermined time limit value t and thedetected time value T (e.g. as difference, e.g. “still 1.5 hours”);

the predetermined/input load limit value w, the detected load quantity Wand/or a difference between the predetermined load limit value w and thedetected load quantity W (e.g. as quotient, e.g. “50% of the loadlimit”);

the detected quantity of cleaning agent R, a difference between thepredetermined cleaning agent limit value and the detected cleaning agentquantity R and/or a status assessment (e.g. “sufficient”); and thedetected energy costs E and/or a status assessment (e.g. “sufficientlyfavourable”).

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and thecorresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

-   10 Controller-   12 Unit-   14 Input device-   16 Display device-   18 Load detecting device-   20 Time detecting device-   22 Cleaning agent detecting device-   24 Cleaning agent proportioning device-   26 Automatic door closing system-   28 Energy cost detecting device-   E Detected energy costs-   R Detected quantity of cleaning agent-   t Time limit value-   T Detected time value-   w Load limit value-   W Detected load quantity

1. A method for cleaning a load in a treatment space of a domesticappliance, which comprises the steps of: detecting a load quantity inthe treatment space; detecting a time value; and automatically startinga cleaning program when: a detected load quantity exceeds apredetermined load limit value; and a detected time value exceeds apredetermined time limit value.
 2. The method according to claim 1,which further comprises inputting at least one of the predetermined loadlimit value or the predetermined time limit value by a user.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, which further comprises: detecting anavailable quantity of cleaning agent; and starting the cleaning programautomatically only when the detected quantity of the cleaning agentexceeds a predetermined cleaning agent limit value.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, which further comprises: providing the domesticappliance with an automatic door closing system for automaticallyclosing a door to the treatment space; and activating the automatic doorclosing system for closing the door before the cleaning program isstarted.
 5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises:displaying at least one information item to a user which is selectedfrom group consisting of the predetermined load limit value, the loadquantity, a difference between the load quantity and the predeterminedload limit value, the predetermined time limit value, the time value,and a difference between the time value and the predetermined time limitvalue.
 6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises:detecting actual energy costs; and starting the cleaning programautomatically only when the detected energy costs drop below apredetermined energy cost limit value.